T&T: Marine diesel engine maintenance training

[Faure, Marin]

>I am located in southeastern PA and would like to take a course on
diesel engine maintenance and repair that I won't have to wait a year or
longer to attend

If you haven't already purchased it, I recommend Nigel Calder's book on
marine diesels called, logically enough, "Marine Diesel Engines."  No
book is as good as a hands-on course, but while you are waiting to take
a course Calder's book will give you the principles of diesel engine
operation as well as lots of troubleshooting and maintenance
information.  I assume since you mention Bob Smith that you may be
interested in Lehman engines in particular.  I don't know how much of
Calder's information is aimed at these types of marine diesels as most
of the Lehman engines use pretty old technology.

I have only read the section in the book on the principle of operation
of a "jerk injection" engine which is what the old Lehman 120 actually
is.  But this section vastly increased my understanding of what our two
FL120s are doing when they're hammering away under the cabin sole.  It
was particularly valuable in showing me the reason for the need to
religiously change the lube oil in the Simms injection pump.  Once you
understand how that pump works and what its components are doing inside
the case, the need for the 50 hour oil change becomes very obvious.

Anyway, it's a good book if you don't already have it.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington